Dogs have been accompanying humans for hundreds of years. They differ from each other not only in their exterior, but also in their abilities, having a very different purpose. The most popular and versatile breed, whose representatives can conduct border and search work, save people, and just be pets, are German Shepherds.
How many dogs live
Each owner sooner or later asks this question. The life expectancy of dogs is small compared to other animals - for example, canaries live up to twenty years. The most devoted and intelligent animal, which has been in the service of man all his life, rarely lives as many. On average, dogs leave us at the age of 12-15 years.
The time flies rather quickly when a small and funny puppy turns into a sedate, respectable dog. A few more years pass, and by about eight years old the animal enters a stage called old age. At this age, the dog seeks to spend most of the time in peace and silence. Her eyesight, hearing are weakening, various sores appear. The owner should show maximum attention and care to the aging pet.
What affects life expectancy
In many ways, how much a dog can live is influenced by its breed and size. Small dogs tend to live longer. For example, in a fox terrier, life expectancy often exceeds a 15-year threshold. The German shepherd breed belongs to rather large dogs, therefore, usually its maximum age is 12–13 years. But despite the statistics, there are many cases where representatives of this breed have lived much longer. With good content, this is entirely possible. For this, it is only necessary to observe a number of conditions.
Of paramount importance is nutrition. The diet should have a sufficient amount of protein, carbohydrates, as well as the necessary vitamins and minerals. Therefore, it is necessary to feed the dog meat, vegetables, cereals. But at the same time try not to overfeed the animal.
The next condition for longevity is to provide the dog with physical activity. Movement in the life of these animals plays a very important role. The breed is a German shepherd created for service, so these dogs especially need training and long walks.
And the last factor affecting life expectancy is the health of the pet. It is necessary to periodically visit the veterinary clinic for examination, because a timely detected disease is treated much faster. Preventive vaccinations are mandatory, which are given to dogs every year.
Feeding
Like all other pets, German shepherds also need complete nutrition. How long these dogs live depends a lot on their diet. Exhibition animals are fed mainly with dry feed of the super premium class. They contain a lot of protein, as well as chondoprotectors needed for ligaments and joints.
If the dog is breastfed, the owner should ensure that up to 70% of the diet is raw meat and offal. The menu must include boiled vegetables, cereals (oatmeal and rice), cottage cheese and yogurt. Many shepherd dogs chew apples with pleasure. Before the dog reaches the age of two, vitamin preparations are necessarily added to the food.
Lifestyle
Regardless of where the German shepherd lives - in an apartment or in the courtyard of a country house, she needs daily long walks in the fresh air. From nature, it contains the need for physical activity and an active lifestyle. In the absence of the ability to spend energy, the dog's character begins to deteriorate, excessive excitability and nervousness appear. Therefore, she simply needs classes on the street.
Most dogs, due to their quick wit, are happy to learn different teams, but German shepherds are especially successful in this. How long they live next to a person - they have always been distinguished by the ability to memorize words and whole phrases uttered by the owner. These dogs can be very happy to train on the training ground or just drive the ball.
It has been established that shepherds living in rural areas, where there is every opportunity for active pastime, live much longer than their counterparts, forced to live in comfortable apartments. Therefore, in order for the city pet to live as long as possible, he needs to provide physical activity. Long walks, training on the training ground, running for a bike - these are exactly the activities that German shepherds prefer. How long do these dogs live in the house - so much time will have to do it. Loads decrease only in the mature age of the pet, when it already becomes difficult for him to move a lot.
Health care
German shepherds are breeds whose health is rarely a concern for owners. However, some diseases inherent to them are available. These are primarily various skin problems - allergies and dermatitis. Control over them and timely vaccination helps to cope with them. Adult dogs that eat natural foods sometimes suffer from intestinal torsion. In these cases, surgical intervention is urgently required.
In the house of an attentive and caring owner, the life expectancy of a German shepherd will be much more than the accepted standards.